What's My Line? - Van Johnson; Mary Healy [panel] (May 22, 1955) 

"John, if you ever had to eat your words...it would be the longest meal in history."

My mother danced with Van Johnson at a party at June Havoc's house in Port Washington, NY, about 1942. He was a chorus boy on Broadway and was friends with June Havoc. My mom lived across the street and saw him mowing the lawn shirtless, she said he was extremely handsome. This was just before she met and married my father

Historical note: when Fred asks early on "Are you Peter Lind Hayes?" he's naming the husband of guest panelist Mary Healy.

Nice big wave Van Johnson gives the audience as he exits. Classy. I always appreciate the mystery guest acknowledging the studio audience. :)

I enjoy these shows but also the comments here are in some cases entertaining.

When Arlene said good night to the person to her left and called him "Van Allen" she really belted him!

mrs america was one of the few who said yes i do John.. politeness is noted

Two of my other favorite TV appearances by Van Johnson was an episode of I Love Lucy as well as Batman (as the Minstrel). Great personality!

Wonderful show. Love watching it every evening.

I looked up information on the first contestant Mr. Draper and found that he committed suicide in 1964 after having a heart attack and was depressed after being no able longer to fly. A sad end to an interesting life. He was only 44 years old.

Van Johnson was involved in a serious car accident in the early 1940s that caused significant facial scars and left him with a metal plate as well. He normally used heavy makeup to cover them. The year before this episode, he deliberately let some scars show through for the character he played in The Caine Mutiny. This is an unusual public appearance in which one can see some of Johnson's disfigurement on his right forehead.

Van Johnson was a mystery guest rarity------He appeared as a mystery guest on both the US and England versions (a brief snippet of the English version appears on a BBC game show special)

Sherman is about an hour north of Dallas, just a few miles south of the Oklahoma border. I used to live there. There's a town connected to it on the north side called Denison. That's the town that Dwight Eisenhower was born in and there was still a little museum there last I know of. So we had Eisenhower's pilot, and a lady who lived probably under 5 miles from where Eisenhower was born on the same night

The person Fred Allen refers to at the opening of the show sounds more like a Philadelphia Lawyer than one from Buffalo. Knowing him after all these WML episodes, I suspect the change was deliberate to indicate that the topic wasn't meant to be taken seriously. Quite possibly it was a friendly honed needle at John Daly for the latter's frequent hair-splitting answers.

Fred Allen made an interesting point with his joke lawyer's letter at the beginning. The lawyer wanted panel members to say 'at my left' instead of 'on my left'. Maybe 'at' is an American usage but here in England 'to my left' sounds OK but 'on my left' sounds more natural. I think it's short for 'on my left side'. The letter from the Buffalo lawyer allows Fred to make the joke that this lawyer handles people as well.

So at the end of the Van Johnson segment, I thought Fred said he sat next to Bonnie Baruch (there was a Bonnie), but he actually said Bernie Baruch (who's not related to Bonnie). Either way, I had no idea what he meant. Turns out, he meant economist Bernard Baruch, who was in the Wilson White House, and advised other presidents as well. This I knew. (Mostly, I know of him from his UN Atomic Energy Commission efforts.)'Apparently, he often did his later advising on park benches, which I did not know. The world is an interesting place. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Baruch#Park_bench_statesman

Mr Draper actually had quite an interesting life, but ended rather sadly

I lived in Fort Worth for almost 30 years. I love that city! Live in the Houston area now. Miss the DFW metroplex!

Despite the injury described in another comment, Van Johnson looks in particularly good nick here. In fact I'd say a good stone lighter than usual!

"Is it edible by men and women?" I can't think of anything that's edible by one and not the other...

I have this episode on my DVR and have always enjoyed it. I especially like seeing Colonel William Draper, USAF, who was the pilot for President Eisenhower. He was a wonderful guest. So imagine my sadness after doing a Google search, seeing his entry in the Wikipedia, and learning that he died by suicide on Thanksgiving Day, 1964. Apparently he was depressed after having a heart attack and therefore being declared unfit to fly, something he had done since he was 19. A very sad ending. It's doubly tragic that a new generation of flyers could not benefit in other ways from Colonel Draper's love of flying, such as sharing his years of aviation wisdom. I'll never see this episode in quite the same way.

Every time the panel ask a contestant who deals in a product if it's useful, they get a "yes". What else?

Didn't realize being a housewife back in 1955 was highly favored enough to be a What's My Line of work

Four who lived past ninety: Van Johnson, Mary Healy, Arlene Francis and Ramona Deitemeyer.

It seems awkward when a guest leaves and walks behind John.

I like when Johnson is leaving he acknowledges the audience. I have a bad habit of looking at Fred Allen's ear's and that's because one is bigger than the other . . . hahaha.

Van Johnson came from my town, Newport Rhode Island. Lived in a house about 3 blocks from my house.

Gotta love John Daly

Was anyone else left with the impression that President Eisenhower sometimes took the controls of his plane? Can you imagine a president doing that in later days?

If John ever ate his words it would almost be as historical as The last supper

Laraine Day and Mary Healy were much better players than the male guest stars that they tended to get in this period of the show. Victor Borge and Wally Cox were completely inept. Only Robert Q Lewis seemed to be able to play the game with any ability on the male side.

Van Johnson was a guest on I Love Lucy three weeks before this.

Hey, Allen said once that he never won one :D

I really like Mary Healy

That walking in front of the panelists was so idiotic. Thank goodness they got rid of that and decided that it was appropriate for everyone to shake hands with the panelists, not just the celebrities.

Grace Brice "owns pickle factory". Isn't "the pickle factory" code talk for the CIA?

Van Johnson lived til age 91🥰

Does anyone know if this program was broadcast live at the time? If they were recorded for later broadcast what medium was used? If I remember correctly, “What’s My Line?” was the last program to air on Sunday nights before stations left the air. I haven’t watched the episodes carefully enough to look for edits and the quality of these programs looks far too good to be kinescope recordings.

Mary Healy has a beautiful face.

I thought that the name of the President's plane was Air Force One? Maybe that was later? 4:15

at my left ok on my left ok but to my left is correct

What :services" did Mrs. America provide?

Van Johnson was supposed to play the role of "Elliott Ness" in "the Untouchables"(1959-1963) but his wifey called the Arnaz household on a Sun. nite and spoke to Desi Arnaz saying to pay Van Johnson MORE money or he would not show up Mon morning and Arnaz said he shook hands with Van Johnson to seal the deal but his wifey then said , "This is America" You should have made a contract b/c you are NOT going to hold up production, pay overhead, etc. Arnaz said " F U Bitch. I am a Latino. Not an American male where you women CUT the BALLS of your men. He can be replaced. I can be replaced. ANYONE can be replaced. " She then spoke to Lucille Ball who said, "Desi is in charge of hiring. You need to speak to him". Desi then put out the word he needed an " Elliott Ness" to audition and @ 2am, Robert Stack's agent found him in a bar and Stack showed up for the audition and became "Elliott Ness"! The wifey SCREWED her husband " BIG-TIME"!

13:00 "Is it edible by men and women?" I'm sorry, what?

F. Allen is right; It should be "AT my left". Else it could be "ON the chair to my left" (side)... Am I right? (I'm not from a English speaking country)

What about TO MY LEFT?

A plane with a propeller on top, now that's some witty way to describe a helicopter.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_G._Draper Information on first guest

16:14 Grows pickles? Lol

@16:16, this is where the joke with blonde and intelligence came up!!

(Madam) Mary Healy is SO, PRETTY!, 🌈

On this date, the Dodgers beat the Phillies 8-3 at Ebbets Field, yet saw a half game chipped off their lead when the fast-charging Giants won a doubleheader in Pittsburgh. The cooled off Dodgers saw their lead drop from 9 games to 6 during this week. Carl Erskine picked up his 8th victory and knocked in 3 runs in his own cause. He faltered in the ninth, giving up home runs to Del Ennis and Roy Smalley. He turned the ball over to Ed Roebuck with two on and one out. Roebuck promptly got pinch-hitter Peanuts Lowery to hit into a game-ending double play. Earlier in the week, the Dodgers lost a pair of low-scoring games in St. Louis and the first game of their 3-game series with the Phillies. Coupled with their loss to Cincinnati in the second game of a doubleheader the previous Sunday, it was a four game losing streak in all. The only time they had a longer one was after they had clinched the pennant. The Cards and Redlegs would be the only two teams that the Dodgers posted a losing record against on the road, 5-6 against each team. In the first game in St. Louis, rookie Larry Jackson scattered nine singles and a double en route to a 3-0 win. The Dodgers had him on the ropes in the first inning when they loaded the bases. But he struck out Gil Hodges to end the inning The Dodgers only had two runners past first base the rest of the way. In the second and final game of the series in St. Louis, the Cardinals jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, helped by two Dodger fielding errors. Dodger pitching held them scoreless the rest of the way, and they had a run in and the tying run on second with one out in the ninth, In one of his last games as manager of the Cards, Eddie Stanky lifted starting pitcher Harvey Haddix and threw rookie knuckle ball pitcher Barney Schultz into the fire. Schultz promptly struck out Sandy Amoros and got pinch-hitter Rube Walker to ground out to preserve the win. On Friday, Robin Roberts avenged two earlier defeats with a 5-3 complete game victory for the final nail in the Dodgers losing streak. The Phillies would win only one other game at Ebbets Field that year. On Saturday, the Dodgers found their way back into the win column despite being outhit by the Phillies 12-4. Thanks to Phillies pitchers largess of 10 walks and two of the four hits being home runs, the Dodgers prevailed, 6-4. It was a typical outing for starting pitcher Dave Cole who pitched for three major league teams since 1950 and battled wildness every year. On May 21 in 4 1/3 innings, he was charged with six runs on only two hits (both home runs) plus six walks and a wild pitch. He nursed a 1-0 lead through three innings, but the wheels came off in the fourth on back to back home runs by Roy Campanella (with one on) and Amoros. When he walked Jackie Robinson and Jim Gilliam in the fifth inning (a ground out by Don Newcombe sandwiched in between) and then fell behind Pee Wee Reese, that was the final straw for Manager Mayo Smith. But pitcher Bob J. Miller, a Phillie for all or part of 10 years including a start in the 1950 World Series, couldn't find the plate either. He completed the walk to Pee Wee (that was charged to Cole), surrendered three more walks (one intentional) and recorded only one out: a sacrifice fly by Campanella. When the dust settled, the Dodgers scored three runs without benefit of a hit and led 6-1. Newcombe faltered in the late innings and when Ennis hit a 2-run home run off him, Roebuck came in to get the last six outs and preserve Newk's 6th win without a loss. The Dodgers must have seen something they liked about Cole. On June 7, they became the fourth organization that thought they could solve Cole's control problems. Sending minor league pitcher Ron Negray to Philadelphia, they acquired Cole and sent him to the minors. They thought they found a problem with his grip during spring training in 1956. But there were too many pitchers competing for too few major league roster spots on the defending World Champions. 19 year old Don Drysdale, a future member of the Hall of Fame, would get the final spot on the roster. Cole never made it back to the majors despite trials with two other teams. With a growing family to support, rather than go back to the minors in 1959, he retired.

That was a bit confusing

I’m getting tired of commentators who do not adhere to the rules of courtesy that usually are asked for. Please, please be careful, when you write comments that thousands of people will read.

PRESIDENTIAL PILOT OWNS PICKLE FACTORY HOUSEWIFE (MRS. AMERICA 1955)

Fred's lawyer is a Buffalo lawyer, but he handles people too?!? Too corny, Fred, too corny.

How sick does Ed Allen look. I'd say his age there looks 68 to 72. How old was he there,? He looks horrible for 74. Too

My goodness, John Daly was a real pain in the neck.

The first guest William Draper committed suicide in 1964

the voice is too recognizable so it ruins the game

Z

BC’s see thru mask once again

The name of the plane was Columbine? Hmmm. Sounds familiar in recent times. 🤭

The show is so much better when Dorothy is not there, that determined pushy way she has wearing that 'this is really serious now' expression ... although it looks odd without Arlene next to Bennett ...

John's one of the best game show hosts there is, but for the last "couple of months" he's has gotten SO annoying. His ridiculous explanations were funny at first, but now I just wanna shut him off every time he does it!

ON AT TO WHO. CARES 😂❤ Pickles with butter? Any pregnant women? No? Ok then 😂 Very ironic that he said ground zero